'Turn Back the Clock' with the Mariners

June 27, 2013

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JULY 18, 1998Kansas City Royals at 2027 Seattle Mariners''Turn Ahead the Clock''
In 1998, Mariners marketing director Kevin Martinez (who's still with the team) came up with the idea for a ''Turn Ahead the Clock'' night with futuristic jerseys. Word is, he approached M's star Ken Griffey Jr. (pictured) with the idea; Griffey loved it and ran with it. Griffey helped design the Mariners' futuristic uniforms, suggesting the red-and-black vest jerseys, the silver helmets and backward ballcaps, according to ESPN. The Royals eagerly agreed to the idea and designed their own futuristic look.
The event was produced as if the game were held in the year 2027 (when the Mariners will celebrate their 50th anniversary). Per ESPN: The Kingdome was referred to as the ''Biodome.'' The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by a robot designed at UW. Local actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on ''Star Trek,'' entered the field for his own first pitch in a DeLorian car (a la ''Back to the Future''). The Biodome's scoreboard included teams like the Pluto Mighty Pups, the Saturn Rings and the Mercury Fire. The Mariners borrowed the Houston Astros' mascot, Orbit, for the game -- replacing the Moose. When the M's and Royals were introduced, the Biodome's lights went out and Seattle fans were treated to a laser and pyrotechnics show. The announcer's voice was synthesized to sound like a computer, and fans got free futuristic Mariners caps.

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JULY 18, 1998Kansas City Royals at 2027 Seattle Mariners''Turn Ahead the Clock''
In 1998, Mariners marketing director Kevin Martinez (who's still with the team) came up with the idea for a ''Turn Ahead the Clock'' night with futuristic jerseys. Word is, he approached M's star Ken Griffey Jr. (pictured) with the idea; Griffey loved it and ran with it. Griffey helped design the Mariners' futuristic uniforms, suggesting the red-and-black vest jerseys, the silver helmets and backward ballcaps, according to ESPN. The Royals eagerly agreed to the idea and designed their own futuristic look.
The event was produced as if the game were held in the year 2027 (when the Mariners will celebrate their 50th anniversary). Per ESPN: The Kingdome was referred to as the ''Biodome.'' The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by a robot designed at UW. Local actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on ''Star Trek,'' entered the field for his own first pitch in a DeLorian car (a la ''Back to the Future''). The Biodome's scoreboard included teams like the Pluto Mighty Pups, the Saturn Rings and the Mercury Fire. The Mariners borrowed the Houston Astros' mascot, Orbit, for the game -- replacing the Moose. When the M's and Royals were introduced, the Biodome's lights went out and Seattle fans were treated to a laser and pyrotechnics show. The announcer's voice was synthesized to sound like a computer, and fans got free futuristic Mariners caps.